Gun-sight.



A @m4-1.11 33-258.. 0R 1.088.352 SR W. P. LBUSHNBR.

GUN SIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED 313.12, 1913,

1,088,352. Patented 11611.24, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

wenz/L07:

(Z W WMM W. F. LEUSHNER.

GUN SIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED TBBJZ, 1.913.

1,088,352. atend @10.24, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..wASHlNu'roN. n, c,

W. F. LEUSHNBR.

GUNSIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED PEBJZ, 1913 Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wif/765565 summum vLANumzArn co., WASHINGTON. u4 c4 UNTTED STATES PATENT FFTCE.

WILLIAM F. LEUSHNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

GUN-SIGHT.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. LnUsH- NER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gun-Sights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sighting apparatus for firearms and comprises an improved system of sighting by means of which the attention of the marksman may be concentrated upon the object at which he is aiming, greater accuracy being obtainable and greater rapidity of sighting being possible than with the systems now commonly in use. This system of sighting is applicable to ordnance as well as to small arms of all kinds.

The invention also comprises certain improvements in the structure of sights.

In sighting systems as now commonly used the gun or other arm to be sighted is provided with a front sight which may comprise a plate or pin, or a button, and with al rear sight which comprises a plate having a notch in it, as in open sighting systems, or a small hole, as in the case of peep sights. In sighting with such apparatus the marksman is obliged to focus his eye on the rear and front sights in order to locate the pin or plate in line with the notch in the rear sight, or the button in the center of the hole in the case of peep sights, in order to secure the proper alinement of the gun barrel. It is then necessary for the marksman to focus his eye on the front sight and on the target so as to make sure that the gun barrel is aiming at the target. Thus the marksman is required to focus his eye on three different objects and if it were possible he should keep his eye so focused while firing. Vifith the system of sights disclosed in this application, on the other hand, the necessity for the focusingof the eye upon the rear sight is entirely eliminated. The marksman is able to tell automatically, so as to speak, if he is not holding the gun in proper alinement. lt is, therefore, necessary for him to focus his eye only upon the front sight and the target, upon-which two points he may fix his whole attention, for if he is no t holding the gun barrel correctly that fact will at once be apparent to him.

The improved system of sights, in its pre- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 12, 1913.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 747,871.

ferrcd f orm, consists of a rear sight having an opening therein of considerable size, and a front sight comprising a member of the same shape as the opening in the rear sight but of such size that when viewed in the ordinary manner through the opening in the rear sight it will appear of substantially the same size as said opening and will apparently lill or close the same, this member being supported above or away from the gun barrel as upon a narrow neck or its equivalent, so as to permit substantially unobstructed passage of light on all sides of said front sight member. The front sight also has a tip or button or the equivalent by which the actual aiming of the weapon upon the target is accomplished. It will be seen that with this arrangement of sights, when the marksman looks along the top of the gun, he will sce the large member of the front sight through the opening in the rear sight and said member will appear to completely fill said opening if the gun barrel is being held in the proper alinement. However, if the gun barrel deviates even in the slightest degree from such alinement the large member of the front sight will no longer fill the opening in the rear sight and light will be visible along one side or the other of or below the front sight. It is not necessary for the marskman to see, that is, to keep his eye focused upon, the opening in the rear sight in order to tell whether such opening is closed by the front sight or not. If his eye is focused on the front sight his attention will be attracted instantly by the appearance of a streak of light adjacent to said front sight and he will then immediately know that his gun is out of alinement and can correct its position. Any error 'in the holding of the gun barrel in alinement being thus at once apparent to him, he may direct his whole attention to bringing the aiming tip of the front sight upon the object at which he is liring.

This invention also contemplates certain improvements in the structural features of front and rear sights, these comprising, particularly, a novel means of adjusting the elevation of a rear sight for range, a novel front sight having a tip which may be adjusted to show either a white or a black face, an improved construction of sights by which rc'fiection from theA visible faces of the sights is made impossible, and other features of improvement which will appear from the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rifle equipped with sights embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing the appearance of the sights when viewed by the marksman, a target being shown in the distance. Fig. 3 is a det-ailed sectional view showing a form of catch which may be used for locking the rear sight elevating cam against displacement. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the barrel, the receiver and the magazine of a rifle, showing the rear sight. and the mechanism for adjusting the elevation thereof, a portion of the gun stock being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the rear sight partly elevated. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other side of the gun, showing the rear sight still further elevated. Fig. 7 is an end view of the rear sight, a portion of the receiver being shown in section. Fig. S is a section on line VIII-VIII, Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the muzzle of the gun barrel showing the front sight mounted thereon, a portion of the sight being shown in section. Fig. 10 is a section on line X-X, Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the sighting.

tip adjusted to expose the white face thereof. Fig'. 12 is a top plan view of the muzzle of the gun barrel and front sight. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modified form of elevating cam for the rear sight.

In the drawings, which show a preferred form of the invention as applied to a rifle of standard pattern, the numeral 1 designates the stock of the rifle, 2 the barrel, 3 the fixed base which is permanently secured to the barrel, and 4 the receiver which is attached to the rear end of the barrel and to the stock. 5 is the magazine which, in the form of rifle illustrated, forms a part of the guard. These parts may be of any ordinary or well known construction and, as will be understood, the improved sighting mechanism to be described may be applied to other forms of firearms whether having all of the parts enumerated or not.

The rear sight proper comprises a member 6 mounted near the rear end of the barrel and having an opening 'T therein which may be of any suitable size and shape, but which, in the form of the invention illustrated, is an open-sided rectangle of a size much larger than the ordinary sighting notch found in open sights now commonly in use. A front sight is mounted near the muzzle of the barrel, its essential parts being the large member 8 and the aiming tip 9. The latter may be of any desired shape but the member 8 is of the same shape as the opening 7 in the rear sight and of just so much larger area than said opening that when viewed through said opening by the marksman in sighting the gun, it will appear to fill or substantially fill the same. The member 8 is supported in such a way that passage of light is obtain-cd past all sides of it with as little interruption as possible from its supporting means. For this purpose the member S is preferably supported on a narrow neck rising from the gun barrel or by other equivalent means. Fig. 2 shows the appearance of the sights to the marksman when aiming. It will be seen that the opening or notch in the rear sight is substantially or completely closed by the front sight. member 8, the top of the latter being even with the edge of the rear sight member 6. Any deviation in the proper alinement of the sights will be at once apparent to the marksman, as a space will appear upon one side or the other of the front sight member 8 if the deviation is lateral, or will appear below the front sight member 8 if the muzzle of the gun is unduly raised. If the muzzle of the gun is depressed, the alinement of the top of the member 8 with the edge of the member 6 will be broken, a condition which cannot fail to attract the marksmans attention. Thus when the gun is held properly, all that the marksman sees is the aiming tip 9 projecting above a straight edge and he is enabled to direct his whole attention to bringing this. aiming tip upon the bulls eye of the target, or other object at which he is aiming.

An important distinction between this system and peep sights is to be noted in the fact that in the latter the marksman observes the target only through the small peep hole, while with the system herein described he has an unobstructed view of what lie is shooting at over the top of the rear sight. He does-not view the target through the notch in the rear sight as he would be obliged to do with ordinary open sights.

The improved system of front and rear sights described may be used upon any type of iirearm and may be mounted thereon in any approved manner. Improved constructions for mounting the sights are, however'. disclosed herein, these constructions being particularly applicable to small arms.

Referring' particularly to Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, it will be seen that the rear sight 6 is provided with a dovetail-shaped base 10 which slides in a groove 11 in a cross bar 12. The latter passes across the top oil the gun barrel near the breech, and is carried by a pair of uprights 13 which slide in ways 14 secured to the sides of the fixed base 3 of the gun barrel. The sight 6 is adjustable in the groove 11 laterally of the axis of the gun barrel, in order to correct for windage. For changing its position in the groove, any suitable means may be provided, such as a windage screw 15 rotating in the cross bar 12 and screwing through a lug 16 projecting from the bottom of the sight 6. The windage screw is rotated by means of a pinion 17 meshing with a gear 18 which, in the construction shown, is rotatably mounted on one of the uprights 13 and to which is fixed a knurled head 19. r1`he sight is preferably provided with a scale 20 by which its lateral displacement can be measured. In order to make a zero correction if necessary, the zero mark 21 instead of being made directly upon the cross bar 12 is made on a small plate 22 which is capable of limited sliding movement in a slot 23 in the cross bai'. A screw 24 serves to lock the plate 22. in adjusted position. The iipriglits 13 are adjustable in the guide-ways 14 in order to raise and lower the rear sight to suit the range. These uprights and their guides are preferably inclined somewhat from the vertical, as shown in F ig. 8, so that as the sight is raised it will be carried slightly to the left with relation to the aXis of the gun barrel, thus correcting for the lateral drift of the bullet, which takes place owing to the rotation given to it by the rifling. As' will be obvious, the error, due to this drift, increases 'with the range, so that as the sight is raised for longer ranges it is moved farther to one side of the axis of the barrel and thus .automatically corrects for the increased drift.

For raising and lowering the uprights so as to adjust the elevation of the rear sight for different ranges, the 'following mechanism is provided: 30 is a pin projecting from the side of one of the uprights and working in a curved or inclined cam slot or groove 31 in a plate or cam 32. The cam 32 is movable longitudinally of the gun, and when so moved the pin 30 will follow along the cam slot and so raise or lower the upriglits and the rear sight. 4 shows the sight at its lowest elevation, as used at ranges up to 100 yards. Fig. 5 shows the camdmoved so as to raise the rear sight to a height suitable for a range of 1000 yards. In the form of the invention illustrated, a pair of guides parallel to the axis of the gun are used for guiding the cam. One of the guides 33 is secured to the side of the receiver or to the magazine, while the other guide, 34, is secured to the Xed base 3. In each of the guides slides a block 35, one end of the cam being secured to each of these blocks. In order that the cam may be adjusted to suit the particular weapon to which it is applied, it is preferably secured to the blocks by means of screws 36 which pass through slots 37 in the ends of the' cam. The cam has a pointer 38 which indi- Cates on a scale marked on the side of the receiver, or other suitable part, the range for which the rear sight is set. The cam is also provided with a knob or handle 39 by which its position may be easily adjusted, this knob preferably including a spring catch adapted to be engaged with the teeth of a rack bar 40, which may form a part of the guide 33. There is, preferably, a notch corresponding to each division on the scale so that the cam may be easily adjusted and locked in any d e sired position. The knob and spring catch may be of any suitable construction. As shown, the knob comprises a fixed part 41 and a movable part 42, the latter being carried on a spring arm 43 projecting from the cani. Attached to the movable part 42 is a toothV 44 adapted to engage with the notches in the bar 40. Vith this ari-angel ment it will be seen that when the marksman grasps the knob to move the cam and adjust the elevation of the rear sight, he will press the movable part 42 of the knob toward theiiXed part 41, thus lifting the tooth 44 out of its notch and permitting the cam to be adjusted to the desired position. lVhen he releases the knob the tooth will automatically engage with the proper notch and hold the cam against accidental displacement, thus locking the sight at the proper elevation. The cam, uprights, guide 33 and rack bar are preferably concealed in a recess 45 in the side of the stock. The knob 39 projects through a slot 4G in the side of the stock, while the pointer 38 projects above the upper edge of the stock, as shown in Fig. 1. lith the arrangement shown for adjusting the elevation of the rear sight, it will be seen that it is possible to set the sight for different ranges with great rapidity and facility. This is a featureA of great importance in the practical use of the weapon and is one which will be appreciated even more on the field of battle than on the riiie range, as it enables the inarksman to correct for the constantly vai'yiiiQ` conditions which inevitably arise. It will be seen that to change the elevation of the sights no screws have to be loosened and no slipping of a small slide up and down a guide-way has to be done. All that is necessary is for the inarksman to grasp the knob 30, which may be of substantial size, which will automatically release the spring catch, and draw the knob toward him or push it from him as the case may be, governing thc movement of the same by the position of the indicator 3S upon the scale, which is plainly visible to him at all times. Moreover, it will be seen that by the use of the cam having a long and not very steeply inclined slot therein, the movement of the pointer is multiplied compared with the movement of the sight, so that it is possible to use an open scale, thedivisions of which are large and easily Cil read; also by curving the cam slot to corre-4 spond with the inverted curve of the trajectory of the bullet it is possible to secure a scale in which the divisions are uniform throughout its length. In the sights now in use, in which the notch or peep hole is formed in a slide which is guided between vertical guides carried by the gun, a scale is marked on such guides by which the position of the slide is set. The divisions of this scale by which the slide must be set for the shorter ranges are very close together, so that it is difficult to secure any accuracy of adjustment of the slide at such ranges. In the improved construction set forth, by making the curve of the cam slot very fiat at the lower end, just as the trajectory of the bullet is iat for short ranges, it is possible to secure the necessary slight elevation of the rear sight while moving the cam and its point-er a substantial amount. On the other hand, at the longer ranges where the elevation of the sight must be more rapid, the cam slot is made much steeper so that the same amount of movement of the pointer will produce a much greater elevation of the sight. By making the cam plate detachable is is possible to adapt the elevating mechanism of the sight to use with ammunition of different kinds, as a cam plate having a slot properly curved to correspond with the trajectory of any particular bullet can be substituted to suit the ammunition employed. It is unnecessary to change the scale, as in th-e adjustable sights now in use. lVith the construction shown the cam plate can be removed by simply taking out the screws 36, when another plate can be attached in its place.

It is often possible, especially where they sight is used with a gun of limited range, to secure a sufficient elevation of the sight by the use of a single cam 32, as above de scribed. In case, however, this is not feasible without making the cam excessively long or of excessive inclination, a second cam 50 may be provided on the opposite side of the gun. This cam has a cam slot 51 and is attached to blocks 52 sliding in guides 53 and 54, similar to the corresponding parts upc-n the other side of the gun. The cam is provided with a pointer 55 which indicates upon a scale divided to correspond with the longer ranges and is moved by a knob 56 having a spring catch engaging with the teeth of a rack bar 57. The upright 13 upon the corresponding side of the gun is provided with a pin 58 which works in the slot 51. The cam 50 remains stationary in the position shown in Fig. 6 while the sight is being elevated by means of the cam 32. When the pin 30 has reached the upper end of the slot. in the cam 32, the pin 58 has reached the position shown in Fig. 6, in which it is ready to coperate with the slot 51 in the cam 50. In order to permit the pin to enter this slot the lower end of the latter is left open, as indicated at 59, the upper end of the slot 31 in the cam 32 being similarly left open, as indicated at 47, to permit the pin 30 to pass out of the same. In order to prevent the walls of the slots from spreading where the slots are cut entirely through the cam, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, small connecting plates 418 and 60 may be utilized or, if desired, the cams may be made as shown in Fig. 13, in which grooves extending only part way through the cams are provided for engagement with the pins. IVhere the two cams are provided the adjustment of the rear sight is made by means of the cam 32 for shorter ranges, say from 10() to 2000 yards, after which the cam 50 is brought into play and used to adjust the sight for ranges from 2600 yards upward, say to 2800 yards, which is the limit cf the effective range of modern rifles.

The present invention also contemplates an improved construction of front sight. As shown in the drawings this sight is constructed as follows: Upon the gun barrel 2. near the muzzle thereof, is mounted a fixed stud 70, the upper part of which is formed into a neck 71 which is made as thin as is consistent with strength. In the top of this neck is formed a dove-tail groove 72 in which slides the block or movable stud 8. The latter has a recess 73 therein in which is mounted the aiming tip 9. The latter is pivoted upon a transverse pivot 74 and is provided with a black face 75 and a white face 7 6. The black face is preferably overhung or inclined toward the eye cf the marksman when the aiming tip is tilted so as to bring this face into view, the result of this inclination being to throw the face into the shadow and so prevent the possibility of its casting any reflection to confuse or dazzle the marksman. Its surface is also preferably prepared by roughening cr coating with suitable material so as to prevent it from refiecting light. When the sighting tip is tilted to show the white side to the marksman it preferably presents a convex surface to the eye so as to reflect as much light as possible. Any suitable means may be provided in order to permit the ready adjustment of the sighting tip so as to present the desired face to the eye of the marksman. As shown, the tip is provided with a tail 7T which is adapted to be engaged upon one side or the other by a pin 78 projecting from the side of a catch 79 which is pivoted upon a pivot 80 and held in operative position by a spring 81. A projecting button 82 is provided which may be engaged by the finger of the marksman in order to permit the pin to be withdrawn from engagement with the tail of the catch while the catch is being swung from one position to the other. Fig. 9 shows the catch locked in position to expose its inclined or shaded side, while Fig. ll shows it swung to the position in which the bright or white side is exposed.

In addition to the face of the aiming tip being inclined toward the eye of the marksman, as shown in Fig. 9, the side of' the block S and the side of the rear sight G which are toward the marksmans eye, are also similarly inclined. Thus the surfaces of all the sights which present themselves to the eye of the marksman are in the shadow and cast no distracting reflections.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A system of sights for firearms comprising a rear sight having a sighting` opening therein and a front sight having a block portion of the same shape as the opening in the rear sight and of such size that when viewed through the opening in the rear sight it will appear substantially to fill said opening, and a supporting member for said front sight which extends downwardly from the lower edge of said block portion and is of less width than said lower edge.

2. In a system of sights for firearms, the combination of a. rear sight comprising a sight bar having a comparatively large notch in its upper edge, and a front sight comprising a narrow neck projecting upwardly from the gun barrel, a block of greater width than said neck mounted thereon, and a narrow sighting tip projecting above said block, said block being of' the same shape as the notch in said sig-ht bar and being of such size that when viewed through said notch by the marksman it appears of substantially the same size as said notch.

3. In a system of sights for firearms, the combination of a rear sight comprising a sight. bar having a. substantially horizontal upper edge and a comparatively large rectangular notch therein, and a front sight comprising a narrow neck projecting up from the gun barrel, a, rectangular block mounted on said neck and of greater width than the same, and an aiming tip projecting above said block, said block being of the same shape as the notch in the sight bar and being so much larger than said notch that when viewed through the notch by the marksman it appears oi'' substantially the same size as said notch.

4. In a. system of sights for firearms, the combination of a rear sight comprising a sight bar supported upon the gun and adjustable vertically and laterally thereon, said sight bar having an opening therethrough, and a front sight mounted on said gun, said front sight having a narrow neck, a sighting member wider than said neck and supported thereon, and an aiming tip, said @trattativa sighting member being of the same shape as said opening in th-e rear sight bar and of such size that when viewed through said opening by the marksman it appears of substantially the same size as said opening.

In a sight for firearms, the combination of guides arranged on the gun and extending substantially perpendicular with regard to the axis of the gun, a sighting member slidably arranged in said guides, a fixed range scale parallel with the axis of the gun, a pointer moving parallel with the axis of the gun for .indicating ranges on said scale, and mechanism including a sliding connection between said pointer and said sighting member whereby said sighting member is moved in said guides when said pointer is moved parallel with the axis of the gun.

G. In a sight for firearms, the combination of' a vertically movable support, a. sighting member carried by said support, a plate movable axially of the gun, said plate having a cam slot or groove therein, a projection on said support working in said slot, and means for locking said plate in axially adjusted position.

7. In asight for firearms, the combination ofmayertically in ovable support, a sighting menilier carried"bysaidwsiipportka. plate movable axially of the gun, said plate havmg a cainslot or groove therein, a projection on said support working in said slot, a fixed scale on said gun parallel with the axis thereof, and a pointer connected with said plate adapted to indicate on said scale the axial position of said plate.

""S.' In a' sighttorlirearms, the combination of a. verticallyT movable support, a sighting member carried by said support, a plate movable axially of the gun, said plate having a cam slot or groove therein, and a projection on said support working in said slot, the slot of said plate being curved in a substantially vertical plane, the curvature of said slot increasing from end to end thereof from substantial tangency with a line parallel to the axis of the gun.

9. In a sight for firearms, the combination of a vertically movable support, a sighting member carried by said support, a plate movable axially 0f the gun, said plate having a cam slot or groove therein, a projection on said support working in said slot, said slot being curved in a substantially vertical plane, the curvature of said slot being similar to the inverted trajectory of the bullet.

10. In a sight for firearms, the combination of a vertically movable support, a sighting member carried by said support, a plate movable axially of the gun, said plate having a cam slot or groove therein, a projection on said support working in said slot, and means for locking said plate in axially adjusted position, a fixed scale on said gun lel With the axis of s parallel with the axis thereof, and a pointer connected With said plate adapted to indicate on said scale the axial position of said plate, said scale being uniformly divided throughout its length, the curvature of said slot being such that equal movements of said pointer along said scale will cause said sighting member to be raised or lowered sufliciently to compensate for equal changes in range.

11. In a sight for firearms, the combination of a vertically movable support, a sighting member carried by said support, a plate movable axially'of the gun and having a cam surface engaging an abutment on said support, a guide for said plate parallel With the axis of said gun, and means Jfor adjusting the elevation of said plate With relation to said guide.

12. In a sight for firearms, the combination of a substantially vertical guide at one side of the gun barrel, a bar sliding vertically in said guide, a sighting member carried by said bar, guides mounted at one side of the gun barrel substantially parallel With the axis of said barrel, blocks sliding in 4said guides, and a. plate ske'wo'iiredwtousaidlblcls, bsiiidwpl'ate having a curved cam slot therein engaging a projection on said vertically movable bar.

13. In a sight for firearms, the combination of a vertically adjustableusighting,meinbeiiea'nmwadjising the elevation Ndirsaid member to compensate :for changes in range from minimum to an intermediate range, and separate mechanism for adjusting the elevation of said sighting member for ranges from said intermediate range to a maximum range, the first of said mechanisms becoming inoperative when the second of said mechanisms becomes operative, and vice versa.

14. In a sight for firearms, the combination of a support vertically adjustable with relation to the gun, a sighting member carried by said support, a plate movableparalfcamiacethren nga ing a vvalriiitiiieii't on said support, the axiabl movement of said plate acting to raise said support and sighting member from minimum to intermediate eevtlons, a.Se@andnlatenievahlaaxielli.9i

lllgillland having a cam face thereon eigaging an abutment on said support, the axial movement of said second plate acting to raise said sighting member from intermediate to maximum elevation.

15. In a sight for firearms, the combination of substantially vertical guides at opposite sides of the gun barrel, bars sliding in said guides, the upper ends of said bars being connected and carrying a sighting member, horizontal guides parallel with the axis of the gun at each side of the gun barrel, plates mounted at each side of the gun barrel and guided axially thereof by said horizontal guides, a scale on each side of said gun, each of said plates having a pointer indicating its position on one of said scales, each of said plates having a cam slot therein adapted to engage a projection on one of said vertically movable bars, one of said projections being adapted to enter the lower end of the cam slot in one of said plates When the other of said projections leaves the upper' end of the cam slot in the other of said plates.

16. In a sight for firearms, a sighting member, the elevation of which is adjustable for different ranges, and means for adjusting the elevation of said sighting member and securing it in adjusted position including aiknob, a rack bar having notches therein corresponding to the different ranges for which it is desired to adjust the sight, and a spring catch operated by said knob and adapted to engage with the notches in said rack bar.

17. In a front sight for firearms, a supporting member having a flat face inclined toward the marksman, and an aiming tip having a fiat face inclined toward the marksman.

Vitness my hand, this 8th day of February, 1913.

XVILLIAM F. LEUSHNER.

Witnesses:

EDMUND QUINCY Mosns, CYESTA B. HORNBECK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

